BATON ROUGE, La. – Sixth-ranked LSU (5-2) travels to Thibodaux, La., Wednesday for a 6 p.m. CT matchup with Nicholls (4-5) at Ray Didier Field.
The game can be heard on affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network, including Baton Rouge flagship WDGL-FM 98.1 FM. The contest will be televised by Cox Sports Television, and it may be viewed live online at ESPN3.com.
Live audio of the games may be accessed at www.LSUsports.net/live with live stats at www.LSUstats.com.
LSU posted a 2-2 mark in last week’s games, including a series victory over Sacramento State in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The Tigers were productive at the plate, batting .326 (46-for-141) in four games with 32 runs, 12 doubles, two triples and one home runs. LSU also recorded eight stolen bases in 12 attempts, and the team posted a .411 on-base percentage.
LSU coach Paul Mainieri said Tuesday that the Tigers will have infielder Kramer Robertson and Cole Freeman switch positions this week, with Robertson moving to shortstop and Freeman moving to second base.
“We’re still two weeks away from our conference opener, so I felt this was the time to try this and see how it works out,” Mainieri said. “We think this has the chance to give us a boost defensively. Both Kramer and Cole are talented, versatile players, and we believe they’ll adapt well to this move.”
Mainieri said that sophomore right-hander Austin Bain (0-0, 6.75 ERA) will start Wednesday’s game on the mound for LSU, while Nicholls coach Seth Thibodeaux will counter with junior right-hander Jake Smith (1-1, 6.23 ERA).
“We’re definitely expecting a big challenge, playing a good team like Nicholls on the road,” Mainieri said. “They beat us last year here at Alex Box, and there’s going to be a lot of electricity in their park for the game. My understanding is that this game has been sold out for quite a while, so we know we’ll be playing in a tough road environment against a talented club.”
Bain, a product of Geismar, La., made his first start of the season last Wednesday at Lamar, working four innings and allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and three strikeouts.
Freshman outfielder Antoine Duplantis led LSU to the series victory over Sacramento State, batting .545 (6-for-11) with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored. He also walked once and did not strike out in 11 at-bats. In the Tigers’ four games last week, Duplantis batted .500 (7-for-14) with three doubles, two RBI, four runs, two walks, two sacrifice bunts, one stolen base and no strikeouts in 14 at bats.
Duplantis, who has hit safely in each of LSU’s seven games this season, recorded a career-best four hits – including two doubles – in last Saturday’s game versus Sacramento State.
Sophomore leftfielder Beau Jordan batted .455 (5-for-11) in four games last week with one double, two runs and five RBI. Jordan ripped a bases-loaded double in the third inning of Sunday’s win over Sacramento State to highlight a five-run outburst. Robertson batted .400 (6-for-15) last week, scoring six runs while collecting two doubles, one triple and three RBI from the lead-off spot in the batting order.
Nicholls is batting .291 this season with no homers yet this season and 19 steals in 25 attempts. The Colonels are led at the plate by senior infielder Kyle Reese, who is batting .500 with three doubles, one triple and 17 RBI. Senior outfielder Alex Shermer is hitting .344 with one double two RBI and six runs, and freshman infielder Ethan Valdez is batting .286 with one double, two RBI and 12 runs scored..
LSU leads the all-time series with Nicholls, 51-23, though the Colonels defeated the Tigers, 6-3, last season (February 18) in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The Tigers have won 24 of the last 26 meetings with the Colonels. Nicholls’ only wins in its last 26 games versus LSU were the 6-3 victory last season and a 3-1 win over the Tigers on April 15, 2009 in Alex Box Stadium.
Wednesday’s game marks LSU’s first trip to Thibodaux since March 16, 2011, when the Tigers posted a 12-8 win over the Colonels.
#6 LSU Fighting Tigers (5-2) at Nicholls Colonels (4-5)
DATE/TIME
Wednesday, March 2 – 6 p.m. CT
STADIUM
Ray Didier Field in Thibodaux, La.
RANKINGS
LSU – No. 6 by Perfect Game; No. 7 by Baseball America; No. 7 by D1 Baseball; No. 10 by Collegiate Baseball
Nicholls – unranked
RADIO
LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge)
LSUsports.net – live audio and live stats
TV
Cox Sports Television
ONLINE
ESPN3.com (online telecast blacked out in markets that carry Cox Sports Television)
SERIES RECORD
LSU leads the all-time series with Nicholls, 51-23, though the Colonels defeated the Tigers, 6-3, last season (February 18) in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field. The Tigers have won 24 of the last 26 meetings with the Colonels. Nicholls’ only wins in its last 26 games versus LSU were the 6-3 victory last season and a 3-1 win over the Tigers on April 15, 2009 in Alex Box Stadium. Wednesday’s game marks LSU’s first trip to Thibodaux since March 16, 2011, when the Tigers posted a 12-8 win over the Colonels.
PITCHING MATCHUP
LSU – So. RHP Austin Bain (0-0, 6.75 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 BB, 3 SO)
Nicholls – Jr. RHP Jake Smith (1-1, 6.23 ERA, 8.2 IP, 7 BB, 12 SO)